Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Wizard of Oz

Understandably, after watching Clockwork Orange, I had to pick a less traumatizing film. Wizard of Oz (1939) seemed to do the trick. Story is fairly simple. Dorothy and her dos Toto live in Kansas with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. During a storm, her house is blown away and she is taken to the Magical Land of Oz. To return home, she must find the Wizard of Oz, the only one able to help her. On her way, she meets a Scarecrow looking for a brain, a Tin Man looking for a heart and a Lion looking for courage.

This is a short musical for children, starring Judy Garland, very fresh and cute. The costumes and decor are a bit out-dated, but it is not a deal-breaker. II liked that we move from sepia to full colour once we enter the dreamland of Oz, that allows for a better differentiation between dream and reality. A bit of a lesson, as Dorothy was unsatisfied with her life in Kansas and,,after many adventures, realises she wants to go home, and, as the with says to her: "you've always had the power to go home".

I was surprised to hear the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and even more when I found all the versions I have heard originate from that movie! Even better, when the Munchkins tell Dorothy to “follow the yellow brick road”, I finally found an explaination for Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy follows the road to find her destiny, the singer draws a parallel between his life, that is unsatisfying, and decides to take another path, “beyond the yellow brick road”.

A good film, a good moment, that does not require the viewer to be extremely attentive, it is easy and pleasant.

A few quotes that I liked, that add a bit of humour:

Auntie Em: Almira Gulch, just because you own half the county doesn't mean that you have the power to run the rest of us. For twenty-three years, I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you! And now... well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it!

Cowardly Lion: All right, I'll go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, I'll tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but I'm going in there. There's only one thing I want you fellows to do.

Scarecrow: What's that?

Cowardly Lion: Talk me out of it!

And to conclude:

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.